Mw. Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy : Heat stress in growing pigs

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14 Mar 2005 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula (gebouw 362), Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Promotor: prof.dr.ir. M.W.A. Verstegen (Animal Nutrition - Monogastrics)prof.dr.ir. B. Kemp (Adaptation Physiology)
Co Promotor: dr.ir. A.J.A. Aarnink

 Compared to other species of farm animals, pigs are more sensitive to high environmental temperatures, because they cannot sweat and do not pant so well. Furthermore, fast-growing lean pigs generate more heat than their congeners living in the wild. This, in combination with confined housing, makes it difficult for these pigs to regulate their heat balance. Above certain critical temperatures (inflection point temperatures) pigs start to adapt their mechanisms of balancing heat loss and heat production. In order of appearance we found inflection point temperatures for lying on slatted floor, respiration rate, evaporative water, ratio of water to feed intake, heat production, voluntary feed intake and rectal temperature. These inflection point temperatures show the subsequent strategies the pig follows at increasing temperatures. Relative humidity had minor effects on physiological parameters. However, a combination of high relative humidity and high temperature showed a detrimental effect on daily gain. It is concluded that high ambient temperatures strongly affect physiology, behaviour and performance of growing pigs. The inflection point temperatures found in this study are good indicators of heat stress. These can be used as set points for cooling systems. Cooling systems improve animal performance and welfare under high temperature conditions.
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